How to Insert Excel Tables into Microsoft Word (PC & Mac)

This tutorial shows how to insert Excel tables into Microsoft Word documents. We will also look at how to update linked Excel tables in Word.

Table of Contents

How to Insert Excel Tables into Microsoft Word
How to Update Linked Excel Tables in Microsoft Word

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The images below are from Word for Microsoft 365. These steps also apply to Word for Microsoft 365 for Mac (a.k.a., Word for Mac), Word 2021, Word 2019, Word 2016, and Word 2013 (PC only).

How to Insert Excel Tables into Microsoft Word

Select the table or part of the table in Excel.
Select the Home tab.
Select the Copy button.

Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + C (PC) or Command + C (Mac) to copy the table.

Copy button in the Home tab in Excel — Figure 1. Copy button

Place your cursor in the Word document where you want to insert the table.
Select the Home tab.
Select the Paste menu arrow.
Select a pasting option from the drop-down menu:

- Keep Source Formatting inserts the table with Excel formatting.
- Use Destination Styles inserts the table with Word formatting.
- Link & Keep Source Formatting inserts the table with Excel formatting. The new table is linked to the original file. If you change the data in Excel, the data will update in the Word document.
- Link & Keep Destination Styles inserts the table with Word formatting. The new table is linked to the original file. If you change the data in Excel, the data will update in the Word document.
- Picture inserts the table as an image.
- Keep Text Only inserts the table data as text.

Paste options in the Home tab in Word 365 — Figure 2. Paste options

The Excel table should be inserted into your Word document.

If you chose any of the options above other than Picture or Keep Text Only, you can now select the table, select the Table Design tab, and adjust the formatting as you would a table created in Word.

Table Design tab in Word 365 — Figure 3. Table Design tab

How to Update Linked Excel Tables in Microsoft Word

If you used the Link & Keep Source Formatting or Link & Keep Destination Styles options discussed above, the Word table should update to match edited data in the Excel file.

Normally, the update will happen automatically when the files are saved. However, you can manually update linked tables whenever necessary.